Komen Columbus Race more inclusive to terminal cancer patients this year

Ellen Wagner The Columbus Dispatch @ewagner19

Friday

May 17, 2019 at 12:01 AMMay 17, 2019 at 6:14 AM

Komen Columbus is changing the way it talks about breast cancer.

For more than 25 years, the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure has celebrated survivors of breast cancer.

But people with metastatic breast cancer — cancer that has spread to other parts of the body — do not always consider themselves survivors, as they have a terminal cancer.

So Komen is working to make the race more inclusive.

For Saturday's race, the former Survivor Ceremony will be called a Celebration of Hope. Survivor Village, where survivors and patients can get pampered before the race, will now be called Hope Village. And the Survivor Trolley, which leads the race and carries breast cancer patients going through treatment, will be called Warrior Express.

“This year is all about inclusiveness,” said Tori Geib, honorary race chairwoman. “Metastatic patients are still welcome, and they are a part of this race.”

As the ambassador for the race, Geib, 33, of Bellefontaine, will speak at the event about her experience with metastatic breast cancer and be participating on Team Tori with 30 family members and friends.

She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2016. Geib just hit three years for treatment and will be in treatment for the rest of her life.

Metastatic breast cancer patients want to stay on treatment as long as possible. When their current treatment stops working, patients look for alternative treatments and research that might provide other opportunities.

Before Geib was diagnosed, she worked as a chef at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. But the metastatic breast cancer damaged her spine and she had to quit. Over the past several years, Geib has been volunteering for various breast cancer organizations, including Living Beyond Breast Cancer and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance.

About 20,000 participants, including 1,500 breast cancer survivors and patients, are expected at Race for the Cure on Saturday. The Columbus race is the largest Race for the Cure in the nation.

Geib has not participated with the Race for the Cure in previous years since there was not a large focus on metastatic breast cancer.

She joined Komen Columbus because it is remembering those who have died from breast cancer and supporting patients going through metastatic breast cancer.

Katie Carter, executive director of Komen Columbus, said the national Susan G. Komen organization wants to reduce the amount of breast cancer deaths overall and find treatments, especially for people with metastatic breast cancer.

In the U.S., at least 154,00 people have metastatic breast cancer, and more than 40,000 people die of breast cancer in the U.S. each year. About 1,800 people in Ohio die from metastatic breast cancer each year — the sixth-highest mortality ratein the United States. Last year, about $1.5 million was raised from the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure. Donations for this year's race will be accepted until the end of May, and it is anticipated that $1.5 million will be raised again.

Of the money raised, 75 percent goes to the Columbus area to help those being treated for breast cancer, which is distributed in a 30-county service area in central and southeast Ohio. Services include patient navigation, free and low-cost mammograms, breast self-awareness outreach and treatment supplies, such as medication and surgical consultations.

The remaining donations go toward Susan G. Komen’s national research fund. About $400,000 was donated from last year's race.

Expo and Hope Village are open to participants at 7 a.m Saturday. Celebration of Hope starts at 8 a.m. on the steps of City Hall on Broad Street. The 5k race starts at 8:45 a.m., and the Family Fun Walk starts at 9 a.m. from the corner of North Front and Elm streets.

ewagner@dispatch.com

@ewagner19

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.